West Acre Mill was of four storeys and built of weatherboard over a brick ground floor under a Norfolk pantiled roof. The mill house adjoined the mill but the roof line was slightly lower. The ground floor walls of the mill dated from the 1400s and their bricks and shaped flints suggested that the materials probably came from the nearby old West Acre abbey.

At one time the mill was running 4 pairs of stones but these were later reduced to 2 pairs, one of which was right handed and the other pair left handed. On pair also consisted of a Derby Peak runner on a French burr bed stone.

One beam was dated in the 1760s.

Lease and Release in Trust. (1) Abraham Sewell, senior, late of Shouldham, now of Swaffham, grocer; Joseph Ransome, late of Wereham, now of Great Yarmouth, miller; surviving Trustees of Lease and Release dated 13-14 Nov 1741. (2) John Birkbeck of King's Lynn, banker; Joseph Loombe of Narborough, miller; Abraham Sewell, junior, of Swaffham, grocer; Richard Ransome of Westacre, miller; John Langley, junior, of Wereham, woolcomber; John Hallam of Middleton, Norfolk, miller; Thomas Gales of King's Lynn, druggist; Zachariah Clarke of Deaver, Norfolk, yeoman.
Two parchments held at Norfolk Recoird Office dated 1st - 2nd July 1784

In the 1950s the mill was surveyed by Mr. P.C. Dewhurst of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. He later commented that the waterwheel and the four level stone-driving frame that allowed for the simultaneous driving of all four pairs of stones, were two outstanding examples of the wheelwright art of the last century.

The mill was pulled down single handedly by its owner William Wright in 1959 as it had been unused for some 20 years and was becoming dangerous.

William Wright was one of five tenant shareholders in Gayton Mills Co.

The Mill house remains.

Curiously, the 10 foot waterwheel was also left in situ and although seriously decayed, remained for several years.
It was had slotted iron rims, with 8 wooden arms, pegs and paddle boards.

The pit wheel was 10 - 12 feet in diameter, 8 armed and iron morticed.

Joseph Everett was the son of Robert Everett snr, a gentleman from Wymondham who had married Sarah Frith in Derbyshire (she mentions her brother Philip Frith). They had 4 children, including brothers Joseph and Robert jnr.

Joseph Everett married Martha Bloomfield in 1823 and they had a son, Joseph Frith Everett c.1824. However they both died, leaving Joseph Frith Everett an orphan at the age of 2. When Joseph Everett died, his brother Robert Everett who was running the nearby Narborough_watermill took over the running of West Acre as well.

1741: Richard Ransome, miller

1824: Joseph Everett, miller

c.1826: Joseph Everett died

c.1826: Robert Everett, miller, also at Narborough

White's 1845: Robert Everett, corn miller

White's 1864: Richard Curtis, miller & farmer

White's 1883: Edward Lewis - also Gayton towermill

Kelly's 1892: Edward Lewis - also Gayton towermill

Kelly's 1896: Henry Lewis - also William Wright, manager; also Gayton towermill

Kelly's 1900: Henry Lewis - also William Wright, manager, owner Henry Birkbeck - High House, West Acre
Kelly's 1900: Thomas Fryer, estate agent, Mill house

Kelly's 1904: Henry Lewis - also William Wright, manager, owner Henry Birkbeck - High House, West Acre

Kelly's 1908: Alfred Lewis - also Gayton & Heacham

Kelly's 1912: Gayton Mills Co.

Kelly's 1922: Gayton Mills Co.

Kelly's 1912: Gayton Mills Co Ltd. - also Gayton

Kelly's 1912: Gayton Mills Co Ltd. - also Gayton

Kelly's 1912: Gayton Mills Co Ltd. - also Gayton & Narborough watermill

1959: Mill pulled down by Wiliam Wright

1960: William Wright

1965-1990: Charles Buxton